It's official: The Premier League runners-up FC Liverpool have submitted a bid to Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the Germany U-21 international Emre Can (20). Can has activated a release clause and is set to join Liverpool on 1 July.“Emre Can has developed very quickly at Bayer 04 Leverkusen over the past twelve months. We wanted to keep Emre at Leverkusen but the release clause is part of his contract. So we wish him all the best and lots of success in his time in the Premier League,” declared Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade in response to the transfer of the midfielder. Can joined Leverkusen from Bayern Munich at the start of last season.

Liverpool have today agreed a deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen for Emre Can, subject to documentation being completed. Here is an in-depth lowdown on the German youngster...

Having represented his country across all youth levels, captaining their U17 World Cup campaign in 2011, the 20-year-old's switch to Merseyside is another exciting signing for the Reds.

Combining a mixture of power and poise, the versatile player is well versed in piloting the pace of games, especially when he is deployed in a deep midfield role. Can revels in box-to-box responsibilities, but has also performed effectively on the left as an attacker and full-back, as well as in central defence.

The Bayer Leverkusen asset is exactly the kind of emerging talent that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers enjoys working with, as his resourcefulness illustrates a wealth of football intelligence.

Perhaps the perfect taster of Can's catalogue of skills is the goal he scored against Mexico in the semi-finals of the U17 World Cup. It was a coming together of beauty and beast; he received the ball with three markers closing in on him, skipped past one and paced forward before escaping two other opponents and evading the goalkeeper to finish expertly.

The move was typical of the aggressiveness on the ball Liverpool displayed last season, and the club will want Can to help continue the trend in the new campaign. His progress has been closely monitored by top clubs since the start of his youth career at SV Blau-Gelb Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt, where it was evident Can boasted brilliance beyond his years.

In 2009, Bayern Munich recognised his talents and secured his signature. In a bid to aid his acceleration into first-team football, the German giants sold him to Leverkusen in August 2013.

"Emre Can is one of the biggest talents in German football," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge at the time. "With this step, we want to make sure he gets enough playing practice, for example like Toni Kroos had at Leverkusen, Philipp Lahm at Stuttgart or David Alaba at Hoffenheim."

Can's performances while at Leverkusen attracted Liverpool to his excellence. He shone in both the Bundesliga and Champions League, the latter in which he made his debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

In 32 starts across all competitions last season, Can netted four goals and notched up four assists, while largely operating in a defensive capacity.

Upon signing for Leverkusen, Emre worked under the tutelage of Reds legend Sami Hyypia. He has also skippered Liverpool's Academy striker Samed Yesil at international youth level.

Can would become the sixth player from Germany to adorn the club's famous Liverbird crest; Markus Babbel, Dietmar Hamann, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Christian Ziege and Yesil preceded him.

The deal marks the fourth occasion a player has arrived at Anfield from Leverkusen, with the other three all being strikers in Yesil, Erik Meijer and Andriy Voronin.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

welcome Emre. Pretty stupid that he can't "officially" sign til July 1 though

As far as I'm aware July1st is the end date of most players contracts and as such if you sign before your last contract expires then compensation has to be paid. The agreements that are agreed now are pre-contract ones !Welcome Emre, is it just me who sees Emre Can but says Imran Khan !!!

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

I am happy we signed a new player but, it concerns me that we have signed a player that could end up being like Alberto or Teixera... why? Aren't Teixeira or Alberto capable of breaking through? I was kind of hoping for Fabrigas or Lallana. Bayer Leverkusen finished in a Europa Spot, if Emre Can was that good would they be selling him after one season for 10m?

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

I am happy we signed a new player but, it concerns me that we have signed a player that could end up being like Alberto or Teixera... why? Aren't Teixeira or Alberto capable of breaking through? I was kind of hoping for Fabrigas or Lallana. Bayer Leverkusen finished in a Europa Spot, if Emre Can was that good would they be selling him after one season for 10m?

What I would have liked,

Striker: Diego CostaMidfielder: Cesc FabrigasDefender: Thiago Silva

Cost: 90m.

What we will get.

Striker: Ricky Lambert:Midfielder: Emre CanDefender: Moreno

Cost: 24m.

Where is our revenue going?

They are selling him because of clause. JD is there a clause to sell Rib.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

I think were being very frugal and very smart with our money at the moment, the last two signings Lambert and Can are two really good additions without breaking the bank, but also two players who have the ability to make an impact in our first XI.

They may not be Costa's, Fabreagas's etc, but as we showed last season, maybe we don't need to be trying to compete with the likes of Chelsea, City, et all in transfers to compete in the league.

Welcome to the club Emre, I think this will turn out to be a very shrewd bit of business.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

I am happy we signed a new player but, it concerns me that we have signed a player that could end up being like Alberto or Teixera... why? Aren't Teixeira or Alberto capable of breaking through? I was kind of hoping for Fabrigas or Lallana. Bayer Leverkusen finished in a Europa Spot, if Emre Can was that good would they be selling him after one season for 10m?

What I would have liked,

Striker: Diego CostaMidfielder: Cesc FabrigasDefender: Thiago Silva

Cost: 90m.

What we will get.

Striker: Ricky Lambert:Midfielder: Emre CanDefender: Moreno

Cost: 24m.

Where is our revenue going?

Don't usually point out these things but that is a bloody ridiculous post. So first, you are happy we've signed another player (me too!), but maybe we've signed another Teixeira or Alberto?? First of all, neither of those players had consistent first team football before they came to us, as Can has had at Leverkusen. Secondly, whilst I also hope one or both of Alberto or Tex can make it here, they are both completely different types of player to Emre Can. Third, there's an inherent risk in any transfer. Your final point about the amount paid is possibly going to turn out to be an excellent example of our scouting people doing a great job. There was apparently a buy back clause available to Bayern, who would most likely take it up at some point considering it was a low fee, but Leverkusen were permitted to sell him to someone else if they wished. Obviously if they think they're going to have to sell him anyway, they're going to sell him for the most they can.

Your wishlist is pretty funny. I'd like Zico, Garrincha and di Stefano please. I'll also be extremely surprised, with all the talk and (thus far) quick movement in the market, if we ended up signing only three players this summer.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

Don't usually point out these things but that is a bloody ridiculous post. So first, you are happy we've signed another player (me too!), but maybe we've signed another Teixeira or Alberto?? First of all, neither of those players had consistent first team football before they came to us, as Can has had at Leverkusen. Secondly, whilst I also hope one or both of Alberto or Tex can make it here, they are both completely different types of player to Emre Can. Third, there's an inherent risk in any transfer. Your final point about the amount paid is possibly going to turn out to be an excellent example of our scouting people doing a great job. There was apparently a buy back clause available to Bayern, who would most likely take it up at some point considering it was a low fee, but Leverkusen were permitted to sell him to someone else if they wished. Obviously if they think they're going to have to sell him anyway, they're going to sell him for the most they can.

Your wishlist is pretty funny. I'd like Zico, Garrincha and di Stefano please. I'll also be extremely surprised, with all the talk and (thus far) quick movement in the market, if we ended up signing only three players this summer.

My own reaction was along the lines of so I admire your more positive position, and applaud you for it.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

Don't know much about him, but he was obviously targeted and we've completed the deal, you can't say too much negative about that. Good start to the summer. If we could get Lallana wrapped up I'd be pretty happy till after the World Cup.

Welcome to the club young man, work your butt off and you'll buy yourself a lot of leeway. YNWA

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

This is going to turn out to be a really good signing. Can is extremely versatile -- can play DM, CM, CB and even LB -- not to mention at the age of 20 he has more Champions League experience than some of our crucial players like Hendo and Raheem. Physically he's a beast, and you can definitely see why the comparisons to Michael Ballack are being made.

Re: Emre Can Player Thread

I am happy we signed a new player but, it concerns me that we have signed a player that could end up being like Alberto or Teixera... why? Aren't Teixeira or Alberto capable of breaking through? I was kind of hoping for Fabrigas or Lallana. Bayer Leverkusen finished in a Europa Spot, if Emre Can was that good would they be selling him after one season for 10m?

Neither Alberto or Teixeira have the versatility Can does.Neither have played in the Champions League.

Can played AM, DM & CB. Great to have another player in there with Henderson's versatility and energy.Something that we badly missed when Henderson got his 3 game ban.